Studying diabetes in nursing school and wondering how you are going to remember the onset, peak, and duration of certain types of insulin or the different types of insulins? Need an awesome insulin mnemonic?
New updated article here: Insulin Types: Onset, Peak, Duration
Well, look no further because here are some clever mnemonics to help you nursing students out there learn these mind-boggling numbers of onset, peak, and duration of insulin.
First, let’s go over the different types of insulin and what insulin falls into each category. They are (remember them in order because the first one is the fastest and the last one is the longest):
- Rapid-acting (fastest)
- Short-acting
- Intermediate (medium acting)
- Long (longest)
Remember the phrase to help you remember which ones are the fastest and longest: Ready (rapid), Set (short), Inject (intermediate), Love (long)!
Now how do you remember if Novolog is short or rapid or if Levemir is long or short? Remember the word INSULIN and play off of the word. Watch the video below on how to set-up the word.
Insulin Mnemonics
Insulin Onset, Peak, and Duration Times
Rapid-Acting Insulin:
Onset: 15 minutes
Peak: 1 hour
Duration: 3 hours
“15 minutes feels like an hour during 3 rapid responses.”
Short-Acting Insulin:
- Onset: 30 minutes
- Peak: 2 hours
- Duration: 8 hours
“Short-staffed nurses went from 30 patient to (2) 8 patients.”
Intermediate-Acting Insulin:
- Onset: 2 hours
- Peak: 8 hours
- Duration: 16 hours
“Nurses Play Hero to (2) eight 16 year olds.”
Long-Acting Insulin:
- Onset: 2 hours
- Peak: NONE
- Duration: 24 hours
“The two long nursing shifts never peaked but lasted 24 hours.”